0mitl)0oman  Contributiona  to  linorolcl^ge. 


155 


ANCIENT  MINING 


SHORES  OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR. 


CHARLES    WHITTLESEY, 


WASHINGTON    CITY: 
PUBLISHED  BY  THE  SMITHSONIAN  INSTITUTION. 

APKIL,    1863. 

NEW   YORK:    D.   APPLBTON    &   CO. 


SMITHSONIAN  CONTRIBUTIONS  TO  KNOWLEDGE. 

155 


ANCIENT  MINING 


SHORES  OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR. 


BY 

CHARLES    WHITTLESEY. 


[accepted   for   publication,   APRIl,,   1862.] 


u 


COMMISSION 

TO  WHICH  THIS  PAPER  HAS  BEEN  REFERRED. 


D.  Wilson,  LL.  D., 

E.  II.  Davis,  M.  D. 


JosEPn  ITenry, 

Secretary  S.  I. 


COLLINS,   PRINTER, 
PHILADELPHIA. 


ILLUSTEATIONS, 


PLATE. 


Outline  Map  showing  the  position  of  the  ancient  mine-pits  of  Point  Keweenaw,  Michigan,  by 
Charles  Whittlesey.     {Frontispiece  ) 


WOOD-CUTS. 

Figure    1.  Waterbury  Mine — artificial  cavern  . 

Figure    2.  Wooden  Shovel — Waterbnry  Mine  ...... 

Figure    3.  Section  on  the  Copper  Falls  Vein   ...... 

Figure    4.  Stone  Hammer  or  Maul,  with  one  groove,  and  broken  by  use — Copper  Falls  Mine 

Figure    5.  Copper  Spear-head — Copper  Falls  Mine     ..... 

Figure    6.  Central  Mine.     Section  of  the  vein  and  old  pit.     East  and  west 

Figure    'I.  Broken  Maul,  without  groove — Central  Mine  .... 

Figure    8.  Ancient  Pits  in  the  Boulder  Drift- or  Gravel — Quincy  Location 

Figure    9.  Minnesota  Mine.     Section  across  the  Vein,  looking  from  the  easterly  quarter 

Figure  10.  Stone  Maul,  with  double  grooves — Minnesota  Mine 

Figure  11.  Copper  Chisel,  full  size — Minnesota  Mine    ..... 

Figure  12.  Spear-head,  half  size — Ontonagon.     From  drawings  of  John  F.  Mullowney,  Esq. 

Surveyor  .... 

Figure  13.  Copper  Gad,  full  size — Minnesota  Mine 

Figure  14.  Chisel,  half  size — Ontonagon 

Figure  15.  Rude  Copper  Knife,  full  size — Carp  River  . 

Figure  16.  Pointed  Tool  with  a  Socket,  full  size— Carp  River 

Figure  IT.  Copper  Instrument,  full  size — Fort  Wilkins 

Figure  18.  Copper  Hook,  full  size — Sault  St.  Mary's   . 

Figure  19.  Outline  of  a  Copper  Tool,  full  size — Garden  River, 

Figure  20.  Copper  Spear-head,  full  size,  downward  view — Oak 

consin     ..... 

Figure  21.  Copper  Knife,  full  size        .  .  .  , 


Canada 

Orchard,  Oconto  County,  Wis 


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Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2010  with  funding  from 

Boston  Library  Consortium  IVIember  Libraries 


http://www.archive.org/details/ancientminingons01whit 


ANCIENT  MINING  ON  THE  SHORES  OE  LAKE  SUPERIOR. 


PRELIMINARY  REMARKS. 

The  evidences  of  ancient  mining  operations  within  the  mineral  region  of  Lake 
Superior  were  first  brought  to  public  notice  in  the  winter  of  1847-8.  Although  the 
Jesuit  fathers  frequently  mention  the  existence  of  copper,  and  even  use  the  term  mines, 
it  is  clear,  from  the  general  tenor  of  their  narratives,  that  they  neither  saw  nor  knew 
of  any  actual  mining  in  the  technical  sense  of  that  Avord.  They  announced  as  early 
as  the  year  1636  the  presence  of  native  copper,  and  refer  to  it  as  having  been  taken 
from  the  "mines."  This  was  prior  to  the  time  when  they  had  themselves  visited 
the  Great  Lake,  and  their  information  was  derived  from  Indians.  At  the  same 
time  they  speak  with  equal  certainty  of  mines  of  gold,  ruhies,  and  steel ;  but  it  must 
be  borne  in  remembrance  that  the  French  word  is  not  equivalent  to  our  English 
mines,  but  may  be  more  correctly  rendered  veins  or  deposits  of  metals  or  ores. 

In  the  "Relacions"  for  1659-60,  after  missions  had  been  established  on  Lake 
Superior,  the  region  is  reported  to  be  "  enriched  in  all  its  borders  by  mines  of  lead 
almost  pure  and  of  copper  aU  refined  in  pieces  as  large  as  the  fist,  and  great  rocks 
which  have  Avhole  veins  of  torquoise."  It  is  probable  that  these  accounts  are 
second  hand  and  such  as  the  Chippeways  gave  when  they  exhibited  to  the  fathers 
specimens  of  native  metal  in  the  shape  of  water-worn  pieces  and  small  boulders. 

Boucher,  in  the  "Histoire  veritable,"  &c.,  in  1640,  asserts  that  "  there  are  in  this 
region,  mines  of  copper,  tin,  antimony,  and  lead."  He  speaks  of  a  great  island 
fifty  leagues  in  circumference,  which  is  doubtless  the  one  now  called  Michipicoten, 
where  "there  is  a  very  beautiful  mine  of  copper."  Copper  was  also  found  in  other 
places  in  large  masses  "aU  refined;"  in  one  instance  an  ingot  of  copper  was  discovered 
which  weighed  more  than  800  pounds,  and  from  which  the  Indians  cut  off  pieces 
with  their  axes  after  having  softened  it  by  fire.  AU  this  information  Boucher 
obtained  from  some  French  traders,  and  not  from  his  own  observation.  Such  is  the 
tenor  of  the  historical  accounts  from  the  time  of  Lagarde  in  1636  to  Charlevoix  in 
1721. 

Detached  and  water-worn  Imnps  of  copper  have  been  found  in  great  numbers  in 
the  gravel,  clay,  and  loose  materials  that  cover  the  rocks,  from  the  days  of  the 
Catholic  fathers  to  this  time,  not  only  in  the  mineral  region  but  over  a  large  space 
to  the  southward  of  it.     AU  these  pieces  were  originaUy  from  veins,  but  have 


2  ANCIENT    MINING 

probably  been  separated  by  the  same  cause  that  gave  rise  to  that  formation  Avhich 
geologists  call  the  "drift." 

The  agent,  whatever  it  was,  that  broke  off  fragments  from  the  rocks,  not  only  on 
Lake  Superior  but  further  north,  and  transported  them  in  the  shape  of  boulders, 
sand,  and  gravel,  as  far  south  as  the  valley  of  the  Ohio,  also  bore  along  the  con- 
tents of  the  mineral  veins  which  those  rocks  contained.  Pieces  of  native  copper 
are  well  calculated  to  resist  the  severe  attrition  to  which  transported  materials  are 
subjected.  Masses  of  it  have  been  found  not  far  removed  from  the  mineral  range, 
weighing  3000  lbs.,  and  others  at  a  greater  distance  have  been  taken  from  the  beds 
of  rivers  and  from  the  beach  of  the  lake  weighing  1500  and  800  pounds.  Others 
again  of  less  size  have  been  recovered  from  the  gravel  of  the  Menominee  River, 
near  the  shores  of  Green  Bay,  and  at  Sheboygan  Falls  near  the  town  of  Sheboygan 
on  Lake  Michigan.  Professor  J.  Brainard,  of  Cleveland,  has  a  piece  weighing  five 
or  six  pounds  which  was  found  five  feet  beneath  the  surface  in  the  drift  gravel  of 
Eocky  River,  Medina  County,  Ohio. 

Had  the  Indians,  the  French,  or  the  Jesuits  of  early  times,  discovered  copper 
on  the  shores  of  Lake  Michigan  or  of  Lake  Erie,  not  knowing  or  supposing  the 
metal  could  exist  except  in  mines,  they  would  probably  have  spoken  of  it  as  having 
been  found  in  a  mine.  The  attention  of  the  fathers  was  not  particularly  called  to 
the  subject  of  mineralogy,  and  although  they  were  learned  men,  their  knowledge 
of  geology  must  have  been  very  limited,  for  this  science  had  not  at  that  time 
assumed  a  place  in  the  schools. 

As  to  the  accounts  given  by  savages,  every  one  who  has  had  much  intercourse 
with  them,  knows  that  great  alloAvance  must  be  made  for  their  want  of  knowledge 
and  their  tendency  to  embellishment  and  exaggeration.  I  have  listened  to  many 
wonderful  tales  concerning  distant  mineral  riches.  An  aged  Chippeway,  by  the 
name  of  Kundickan,  whom  I  met  on  the  Ontonagon  in  1845,  stated  that  as  he 
was  one  day  sailing  along  the  western  shore  of  the  Gogebic  (or  Akogebe)  Lake,  at 
the  head  of  the  west  branch  of  that  river,  he  heard  an  explosion  on  the  face  of 
a  rocky  cliff"  that  overlooked  the  Avater,  and  saw  pieces  of  something  fall  at  a  dis- 
tance from  him,  both  in  the  lake  and  on  the  beach.  When  he  had  found  some  of 
them,  they  proved  to  be  a  white  metal,  like  "  Shuneaw"  (money),  which  the  white 
man  gives  to  the  Indians  at  La  Pointe,  There  are  good  reasons  why  the  old 
missionaries  should  have  had  greater  confidence  in  such  stories  than  we  have,  and 
thus  have  given  them  a  place  in  their  reports  to  the  Propaganda.  But  with  all 
the  influence  possessed  by  them  over  the  Indians,  and  the  closeness  of  the  ties  that 
could  not  faU  to  exist  between  a  priest  and  his  converts,  no  instance  is  referred  to 
where  they  were  shown  muiing  operations  upon  the  rocks  or  veins. 

There  is  nothing  to  show  that  the  Indians  wrought  copper  in  mines  at  that  time. 
They  had  no  implements  proper  for  the  purpose ;  nor  did  they  produce  samples  of 
metal  taken  from  its  position  in  situ.  The  Indians  hacT  neither  copper  kettles  nor 
axes  when  the  French  came  among  them ;  but  only  rudely  fashioned  copper  knives, 
that  were  evidently  beaten  out  from  small  boidders.  Instead  of  viewing  copper  as 
an  object  of  every  day  use,  they  regarded  it  as  a  sacred  Manitou,  and  carefully 
preserved  pieces  of  it  wrapped  up  in  skin  in  their  lodges  for  many  years ;  and  this 


ON  THE  SHORES  OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  3 

custom  has  been  continued  to  modern  times.  I  am  Avell  aware  that  they  have  a 
superstitiovis  dread  of  showing  a  mineral  mass  or  locality  to  a  white  man,  believing 
that  the  Manitous  wiU  visit  them  with  some  calamity  if  they  do  so. 

The  missionaries,  however,  frequently  overcame  this  feeling  in  regard  to  copper 
boulders,  and  could  as  easily  have  done  so  in  regard  to  mines,  if  any  such  had 
really  existed.  If  the  Chippeways  had  been  cognizant  of  the  ancient  works  that 
have  been  recently  discovered,  they  would  have  communicated  this  fact  to  their 
spiritual  fathers,  who  would  not  have  suffered  so  interesting  a  fact  to  be  lost. 

If  the  Indians  possessed  traditions  from  their  ancestors  relating  to  ancient 
mines,  or  the  people  who  worked  them,  those  must  also  have  come  to  the  ears 
of  the  Jesuits.  With  the  exception  of  an  old  ChippcAvay  chief  who  resided  some 
years  since  at  Fon  du  Lac  (Lake  Superior),  I  have  known  of  no  one  pretending  to 
such  knowledge.  The  story  he  gives  is  sufficiently  imaginative,  and  relates  to 
mines  wrought  by  his  tribe  on  Isle  Eoyale,  in  times  long  past,  when  his  fathers 
were  much  happier,  and  had  larger  canoes  than  his  cotemporaries  have  now.  I 
place  his  narrative  in  the  same  category  with  those  above  noticed,  as  having  refer- 
ence to  boulder  copper,  and  not  to  that  obtained  from  mining  in  situ. 

From  evidences  which  I  shall  give,  in  describing  the  works  in  detail,  it  will 
appear  that  they  were  abandoned  several  hundred  years  before  the  French  became 
acquainted  with  the  northern  tribes ;  no  mines  having  been  found  that  could  have 
been  wrought  as  late  as  the  time  of  the  earliest  Jesuit.  If  such  were  wrought  by 
Indians,  it  must  have  been  at  a  period  very  remote,  such  as  Loons  Foot  describes. 
But  could  the  natives  have  lost  the  recollection  of  such  a  state  of  things "?  Had 
they  ever  worked  mines,  they  must  have  possessed  the  skill  to  fashion  the  metal 
extracted  from  them  into  various  useful  forms,  without  Avhich  it  woidd  be  of  no 
value.  Neither  the  skiU  nor  the  implements  themselves  would  ha^'e  been  lost  in  a 
few  hundred  years,  by  a  people  having  the  same  wants,  and  residing  in  the  same 
country. 

It  also  seems  to  be  highly  improbable  that  their  ancestors  either  knew  of  ancient 
mines,  not  worked  by  themselves,  or  the  people  who  wrought  them.  Tradition  is 
the  only  history  of  savage  nations,  and  the  fault  of  this  species  of  knowledge  is 
not  in  the  absence,  but  in  the  excess  of  materials  such  as  they  are. 

Among  thousands  of  legends  Avhich  the  Indians  have  related,  nothing  positive  or 
consistent  has  come  to  my  knowledge  respecting  the  people  who  preceded  the  present 
Aborigines,  except  a  tradition  communicated  to  Major  Long,  in  1819,  upon  the 
Great  Miami  River,  by  an  Indian  chief,  during  his  Expedition  to  the  Sources  of  the 
Mississippi.  Aside  from  this,  I  have  heard  of  nothing  coming  from  the  Western 
tribes  concerning  the  origin  of  the  tumuli  and  earthworks  that  are  so  conspicuous 
in  Ohio,  Kentucky,  and  other  Western  States.  As  a  people,  if  we  may  judge  by 
their  silence  on  a  subject  on  which  they  may  be  supposed  inclined  to  be  communi- 
cative, if  they  had  anything  to  tell,  the  aborigines  have  no  traditionary  knowledge 
of  their  predecessors,  the  race  of  the  "mound  builders."  Neither  do  we  find  in 
the  record  of  English  travellers  who  succeeded  the  French  in  1763  any  notice  of 
ancient  mines. 


ANCIENT   MINING 


Description  of  the  Locality  of  the  Remains  of  Ancient  Mining  Operations,  &g. 

In  casting  tlie  eye  over  a  map  of  Lake  Superior,  a  remarkable  projection,  in  the 
form  of  an  immense  liorn,  will  be  observed  jutting  out  from  the  south  shore,  and 
curving  to  the  northeast  untU  it  ends  in  an  irregular  point. 

This  peninsula,  which  is  called  Keweenaw  Point,  is  about  eighty  miles  in  length, 
and  at  the  place  where  it  joins  the  main  land  forty-five  miles  in  width.  Through 
the  whole  extent  of  this  projection  a  belt  of  metalliferous  trap  formation  extends, 
diifering  at  various  points  in  structure,  and  in  the  character  of  its  contents.  Along 
this  belt,  which  is  designated  on  the  map  by  dotted  lines,  there  are  exhibited,  through- 
out nearly  its  whole  extent,  a  disturbance  of  the  strata,  and  upheavals  comprising  a 
series  of  blufi^s,  rising  abruptly  from  the  two  streams.  Eagle  and  Montreal  Rivers. 

Within  this  belt,  all  the  mining  operations,  ancient  and  modern,  have  been  chiefly 
confined.  The  most  remarkable  feature  of  the  district  is  the  character  of  its  metal- 
liferous products,  Avhich  occur,  not  in  the  condition  of  an  ore  of  copper,  but  exclu- 
sively as  native  metal.  This  is  met  with  in  immense  masses,  in  veins  of  smaller 
size,  and  in  rounded  nodules.  The  cutting  of  the  masses  is  a  tedious  and  costly 
process,  and  in  some  instances,  even  with  aU  the  appliances  of  modern  art,  requires 
several  months  before  a  single  mass  is  entirely  removed  from  the  mine.  The  metal 
is  sometimes  almost  entirely  free  from  foreign  matter,  yielding  when  melted  down 
in  the  furnace  from  90  to  95  per  cent,  of  copper. 

The  first  actual  mining  operations,  within  historic  times,  were  commenced  near 
the  forks  of  the  Ontonagon,  in  1761,  by  Alexander  Henry,  but  under  the  peculiar 
circumstances  they  proved  entirely  abortive.  In  1841,  Dr.  Douglas  Houghton  made 
a  report  to  the  Legislature  of  Michigan,  in  which  the  earliest  definite  information  in 
regard  to  the  occurrence  of  native  copper  on  Lake  Superior  was  given  to  the  public. 
Shortly  after  this,  mining  operations  were  commenced  in  this  region,  explorers  and 
speculators  fiocked  to  it  from  aU  quarters,  and  in  1845  the  shores  of  Keweenaw 
Point  were  whitened  with  their  tents. 

In  1846  the  excitement  reached  its  climax,  after  which  a  reaction  took  place, 
and  finally  only  half  a  do2en  companies  out  of  all  that  had  been  formed  continued 
the  operation  of  mining  in  good  earnest. 

The  first  public  announcement,  so  far  as  we  are  aware,  of  the  remains  of  ancient 
mines  in  the  copper  region  is  that  by  Mr.  S.  O.  Knapp,  agent  of  the  Minnesota 
Mining  Company,  in  1848.  Dr.  Chas.  T.  Jackson  brought  forward  the  subject  in 
his  Geological  Report  to  the  United  States  Government,  in  1849,  and  gave  some 
interesting  details  of  what  had  been  discovered  up  to  that  time.  Further  mention 
of  it  was  made  by  Messrs.  Foster  and  Whitney,  in  their  report  in  1850,  and  several 
illustrations  were  given.  Since  then  our  knowledge  of  the  subject  has  been  much 
enlarged  by  the  prosecution  of  mining  operations  on  the  very  sites  of  the  ancient 
works. 

It  must  not,  h-owever,  be  supposed  that  our  information  is  now  complete.  It  is  by 
no  means  an  easy  task  to  discover  remains  buried,  as  those  of  the  ancient  mines  of 


ON  THE  SHORES  OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  6 

Lake  Superior  are,  in  extensive  and  dense  forests,  where  the  explorer  can  only  see 
a  few  rods,  or,  perhaps,  yards  around  him,  and  where  there  is  seldom  anything 
which  rises  sufficiently  high  above  the  surface  to  attract  the  eye. 

They  are,  for  the  most  part,  merely  irregular  depressions  in  the  soil,  trenches,  pits, 
and  cavities ;  sometimes  not  exceeding  one  foot  in  depth,  and  a  few  feet  in  diameter. 
Thousands  of  persons  had  seen  the  depressions  prior  to  1848,  Avho  never  suspected 
that  they  had  any  connection  with  the  arts  of  man ;  the  hollows,  made  by  large 
trees  overturned  by  the  wind,  being  frequently  as  well  marked  as  the  ancient  exca- 
vations. Besides  this,  there  are  natural  depressions  in  the  rocks  on  the  outcrop  of 
veins,  formed  by  the  decomposition  of  the  minerals,  that  resemble  the  troughs  of 
the  ancient  miners,  as  they  appear  after  the  lapse  of  centuries.  There  is  not  always 
a  mound  or  ridge  along  the  side  of  the  pits,  for  most  of  the  broken  rock  was  thrown 
behind,  nearly  filling  up  the  trenches.  A  mound  of  earth  is  as  nearly  imperishable 
as  any  structure  we  can  form.  Some  of  the  tumuli  of  the  west  retain  their  form, 
and  even  the  perfection  of  their  edges  at  this  day.  But  mere  pits  in  the  earth  are 
rapidly  fiUed  up  by  natural  processes.  Some  of  those  which  have  been  reopened, 
and  found  to  have  been  originally  ten  feet  deep,  are  now  scarcely  visible.  Others 
that  have  a  rim  of  earth  around  the  borders,  or  a  slight  moimd  at  the  side,  and 
Avere  at  first  very  shallow,  are  more  conspicuous  at  present  than  deep  ones  without 
a  border. 

There  are,  however,  pits  of  such  size  as  could  not  faU  to  surprise  one  at  first  view, 
were  not  the  effect  destroyed  by  the  close  timber  and  imderwood  with  which  they 
are  surroimded.  A  basin-shaped  cavity,  15  feet  deep  and  120  feet  in  diameter, 
would  immediately  attract  the  eye  of  the  explorer  were  it  properly  exposed.  But 
it  is  not  unusual  to  find  ten  and  twehe  feet  of  decayed  leaves  and  sticks,  filling  a 
trench,  and  no  broken  rock  or  gravel.  In  such  cases  a  fine  red  clay  has  formed 
towards  the  bottom,  a  deposit  from  water,  which  indicates  the  long  period  of  time 
since  the  excavation  was  made. 

From  the  accompanying  map  it  will  be  seen  that  the  positions  of  the  principal 
ancient  mines  correspond  to  those  Avhich  are  worked  at  present.  There  are  three 
groups  or  centres  of  operation  in  both  cases,  one  a  little  below  the  forks  of  the 
Ontonagon  River,  another  at  Portage  Lake,  and  a  third  on  the  waters  of  Eagle 
E.iver.  Other  works  are  known  to  exist,  and  more  will  probably  be  fomid;  but  Ave 
have  probably  discovered  the  most  important  ones  within  the  district  embraced  by 
the  map. 

Although  the  old  works  are  not  always  situated  upon  what  Avould  be  considered 
good  veins,  yet  they  are  regarded  by  practical  miners  as  pretty  sure  guides  to  valu- 
able lodes. 

In  the  opening  of  our  principal  mines,  we  have  followed  in  the  path  of  our  pre- 
decessors, but  with  much  better  means  of  penetrating  the  earth  to  great  depths. 
The  old  miners  performed  the  part  of  sm-face  explorers. 

In  giving  detailed  descriptions  of  the  antiquities  of  the  mining  country,  Ave  shall 
commence  Avith  those  most  easterly,  near  the  extremity  of  Point  KcAvcenaAV,  and 
proceed  along  the  mineral  range  in  the  order  of  position  to  the  south Avest.  There  are, 
hoAvever,  ancient  Avorks  found  over  a  much  greater  space  than  is  included  in  the  map. 


6  ANCIENT   MINING 

The  veins  on  Isle  Royale,  and  near  the  north  shore,  opposite  Point  Keweenaw, 
were  extensively  Avrought  in  olden  times. 

In  the  other  direction,  sixty  and  eighty  miles  to  the  southeast,  in  the  iron  region 
near  Marquette  are  remains  that  are  also  ancient,  and  which  will  be  noticed  here- 
after. 

No  doubt  future  examinations  will  bring  others  to  notice  on  the  continuation  of 
the  mineral  range  to  the  southwest,  as  it  extends  in  that  direction  into  Wisconsin. 

DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  SEVERAL  WORKS. 

1st  Group. 

The  Agate  Harbor  Company  has  an  extensive  property  on  the  range  south  of 
Agate  Harbor,  on  which  there  are  reported  to  be  Indian  diggings,  as  these  excava- 
tions are  frequently  called  by  the  miners.  They  are  well  developed  at  the  works 
of  the  Native  Copper  Company,  on  the  northern  slope  of  the  range,  and  on  the 
Northwest  Company's  grounds  at  their  mines,  south  of  the  "Greenstone"  cliffs. 
The  same  veins  extend  across  both  these  locations,  a  distance  of  a  mile  and  a  half, 
indicated  by  the  presence  of  old  works. 

At  the  Northwest  Mine  the  pits  are  conspicuous,  showing  on  the  surface  the 
position  of  three  veins  that  have  since  been  wrought.  Stone  maids  Avere  abundant 
in  them.  Some  of  the  pits  had  been  made  in  a  band  of  red  conglomerate,  which 
lies  betAveen  the  strata  of  greenstone  (or  crystalline)  and  amygdaloid  trap.  This 
conglomerate  is  composed  of  pebbles  and  boulders  principally  of  red  trap,  cemented 
by  argillaceous  red  sand,  forming  a  very  compact  stratum,  twelve  to  twenty  feet 
thick.  It  here  carries  copper  in  small  grains  or  pieces,  near  the  veins;  also  crys- 
tallized calcareous  spar  and  epidote. 

The  ancients  did  not  neglect  the  most  trifling  indications  of  metal,  but  appear  to 
have  instituted  a  thorough  investigation  as  to  whether  the  copper  existed  in  true 
veins,  in  metalliferous  bands,  or  in  detached  nests.  There  is  nothing  remarkable  in 
their  operations  at  the  "Native"  Copper  and  the  "Northwest"  mines,  except  this 
closeness  of  pursuit,  through  aU  the  veins  and  branches  to  their  most  minute 
extremities. 

Waterhury  Mine. — The  works  of  this  Company  are  situated  about  one  mile  and 
a  half  west  of  the  Northwest  Mine.  A  person  passing  to  the  interior  from  Eagle 
Harbor  or  anywhere  along  the  northern  shore  of  Point  Keweenaw,  and  crossing 
the  mineral  range  to  the  valley  of  the  Little  Montreal,  witnesses  everywhere  the 
same  topographical  features.  The  mountain  range  rises  from  the  lake  level,  in  the 
distance  of  a  mile,  to  an  elevation  of  500  and  600  feet ;  in  the  next  mile  the  ascent 
is  less  precipitous,  but  the  ground  continues  to  rise  from  one  to  two  hundred  feet 
more.  Prom  the  summit  of  the  range  there  is  along  the  whole  line,  from  the 
extremity  of  the  point  to  the  Albion  location,  two  miles  west  of  the  Cliff  Mine,  a 
vertical  waU  of  naked  trap  rudely  columnar,  the  upper  edge,  or  crest,  of  which 
forms  the  summit  of  the  range.  This  mineral  front  has  the  appearance  of  a  vast 
upheaval  from  two  to  three  hundred  feet  high  facing  the  south,  and  about  thirty 


ON  THE  SHORES  OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  7 

miles  in  length.  The  ground  from  the  bottom  of  this  wall  rises  gradually  to  the 
south  luitU  it  reaches  another  range  of  about  the  same  elevation,  thus  forming  a 
long  narrow  valley,  through  which  flow,  in  opposite  directions,  the  Montreal  and 
Eagle  Elvers.  From  the  summit  of  the  perpendicular  cliff  at  the  Waterbury  Mine 
this  valley  presents  a  view  extremely  picturesque,  and  such  as  is  seldom  seen  by 
the  traveller  in  other  regions.  The  general  contour  of  the  vaUey  is  curvilinear, 
so  that  the  eye,  placed  at  the  middle  of  an  arc  in  the  position  above  mentioned, 
takes  in  the  boundary  ridge  on  each  side  as  well  as  the  whole  inclosure.  At  the 
Waterbury  Mine,  which  is  situated  near  the  middle  of  the  length  of  the  vaUey, 
there  is  in  the  face  of  the  vertical  bluff  an  ancient  artificial  recess  or  cavern, 
which  is  twenty-five  feet  in  horizontal  length,  fifteen  feet  high,  and  twelve  feet  in 
depth.  In  front  of  it  is  a  pile  of  the  excavated  rock,  on  which  are  now  standing,  in 
full  size,  the  fore^  trees  common  to  this  region.  Some  of  the  blocks  of  stone  which 
were  removed  from  the  recess  would  probably  weigh  two  or  three  tons,  and  must 
have  required  the  use  of  levers  to  dislodge  them  from  their  original  position. 
Beneath  the  surface  rubbish  the  remains  of  a  gutter  or  trough  composed  of  cedar 
bark  were  discovered,  the  object  of  which  was  clearly  to  conduct  off  the  water  Avhich 
was  baled  from  the  mines  by  wooden  bowls,  of  which  mention  wiU  be  made  here- 
after. Portions  of  fine  or  pulverized  copper  scales  remained  in  the  upper  end  of 
this  trough.  After  removing  the  Avater  and  decayed  leaves  at  the  bottom  of  the 
excavation  a  piece  of  white  cedar  timber  was  found,  one  end  of  which  exhibited 
the  marks  of  a  cutting  instrument  like  those  of  a  narrow  axe. 

Fig.  1. 


WATEEEnET  MiNE,  artificial  cavern. — A.  Crystalline  or  greenstone  trap,  dipping  N.  280. — B.  Amygdaloid  trap. — 
C.  Talus  of  the  bluff  and  drift. — a.  Ancient  rock  excavation. — b.  Rubbish  thrown  out  of  a.—  d.  Conglomerate 
bed. — c  c.  Jointed  chloritic  bed. — e  e.  Inclined  shaft  of  Waterbury  Company. — 2.  Little  Montreal  River  or 
creek. 


The  above  profile  is  made  at  right  angles  to  the  bluff,  and  shows  the  geological 
structure  as  seen  from  the  western  side.  It  would  answer  equally  well  for  the 
North,  West,  NbrtJi  Western,  Eagle  River,  Glif,  or  any  mine  situated  on  the  southern 
face  of  the  coast  range  of  Point  Keweenaw. 


8  ANCIENT   MINING 

The  copper  bearing  amygdaloid  (B)  is  separated  from  the  crystalline  or  "  Green- 
stone" trap  (A)  by  a  parting  of  conglomerate  (d),  which  is  however  sometimes  wanting, 
and  its  place  suppHed  by  a  thin  bed  of  red  clay  called  '■'Jiucan" ovevlsiid  by  a  layer 
of  quartz  carrying  specks  of  copper.  This  parting,  whether  it  be  of  red  conglome- 
rate or  of  flucan  and  quartz,  is  known  as  the  "slide,"  and  sometimes  (though 
improperly)  is  called  a  cross-course.  The  beds  all  dip  northerly  and  at  an  angle  of 
28°.  Resting  immediately  on  the  slide,  and  composing  the  inferior  face  of  the 
greenstone  stratum,  is  a  bed  of  blackish-green  chloritic  rock  (c  c)  very  much  jointed, 
which  contains  between  its  joints,  in  a  leafy  state  and  in  its  mass  in  a  state  more 
solid,  scales,  particles,  and  lumps  of  copper.  This  chloritic  bed  is  from  12  to  15 
feet  thick,  and  in  it  the  ancients  worked  forming  this  cavern.  They  did  not  operate 
on  a  vein  at  this  place. 

The  Waterbury  Company,  encouraged  by  the  labors  of  their  predecessors,  foUoAved 
from  the  bottom  of  "a"  along  the  surface  of  the  conglomerate  by  an  inclined  shaft 
"jE/  E"  to  a  depth  of  300  feet,  measuring  on  the  slide. 

In  removing  a  part  of  the  old  burrow  B,  Dr.  Blake  discovered  several  shovels, 
of  white  cedar,  resembling  the  paddles  in  form  now  used  by  the  Chippeway 
Indians  in  propelling  their  canoes.  Had  these  been  found  elsewhere,  they  would 
have  been  regarded  as  ordinary  paddles,  but  in  this  place  they  had  evidently  been 
used  as  shovels.  This  is  also  evident  from  the  manner  in  which  the  blades  are 
worn,  as  shown  by  the  hnes  a  a,  bb,  cc,  in  the  annexed  sketch. 

Fig.  2. 


Wooden  Shovel,  3J  feet  long — Waterbury  Mine. — a  a  a.  Original  form. — b  b.  Partially  worn. — c  e.  Worn  obliquely. 

The  blades  are  more  worn  on  the  tmder  side  than  the  upper,  as  if  the  mineral 
had  been  scraped  together  and  then  shovelled  out,  as  is  the  practice  of  the  miners 
of  the  present  day.  The  shovels  which  were  found  beneath  the  water  level  were 
sound  in  appearance,  and  the  strokes  of  the  tool  by  which  they  were  formed 
remained  perfectly  distinct,  but  on  being  dried  they  shrunk  very  much,  opening  in 
long  cracks,  the  wood  retainmg  little  of  its  original  strength  or  hardness. 

A  birch  tree,  t-^o  feet  in  diameter,  grew  directly  over  one  of  these  paddles. 

A  portion  of  a  wooden  scoop,  or  bowl,  was  found  ia  the  pit,  evidently  intended 
to  dip  up  and  to  pass  water.  Its  edge  had  been  worn,  like  the  shovels,  by  scraping 
over  the  rock ;  but  it  was  so  much  decayed  that  it  fell  to  pieces  when  it  was  taken  out. 

I  examined  the  walls  of  this  cavern  minutely,  hoping  to  find  the  marks  of  some 
tool  of  metal.  The  effects  of  blows  of  stone  mauls  were  visible,  and  such  is  the 
hardness  of  the  rock,  that  if  driUs  or  picks  had  been  used  upon  it,  I  think  the 
marks  would  be  easily  seen,  particularly  on  that  part  which  was  protected  from  the 
atmosphere  by  water. 

At  one  place  something  resembling  the  impression  made  by  the  point  of  a  light 
shai-p  pick  was  discernible,  but  not  very  plain,  and  only  in  a  smgle  instance. 


ON  THE  SHORES  OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  9 

In  the  Porcupine  Mountains  I  have  seen  works  made  by  the  English  miners  in 
the  years  1769  and  '70,  where  an  adit  or  open  cut  made  in  the  face  of  a  chfF  has 
been  always  exposed  to  the  frost  and  rains.  But  here  the  marks  of  picks  and  drills 
appear  as  fresh  and  as  perfect  as  if  they  had  been  recently  made,  although  in  some 
places  the  sides  of  the  cut  are  covered  by  old  lichens  and  mosses. 

Copjier  Falls  Location. — The  ancient  miners  made  very  extensive  excavations  on 
the  property  of  the  Copper  Falls  Mining  Company,  both  upon  veins  and  metallife- 
rous bands,  which  run  parallel  with  the  formations.  By  the  profile  and  explanations 
here  given  the  geological  structure  of  the  place  will  be  well  understood. 

Fig.  3. 


Section  on  the  Copper  Falls  Vein.  Explanations. —  \4S^^\  Trap  rock.  |6fo'°g°o?|  Conglomerate  beds.  \yi-yf-hyH 
Sandstone.— a  a  a.  Ancient  pits  on  tlie  vein.— 6  b  b.  Shafts  and  galleries  of  the  mine.- c.  Sand  dunes.— d  d. 
Copper  bearing  bed  of  trap. 

Scale — horizontal  and  vertical — 2  inches  to  the  mile.     1,  6,  7,  Nos.  of  the  shafts. 


This  sketch  illustrates  the  geology  of  the  northern  part  of  the  range,  or  of  all 
mines  described  under  the  head  of  Copper  Falls  Location. 

From  this  it  wiU  also  appear  that  when  we  use  the  term  extensive,  as  applied  to 
"Indian  diggings,"  it  is  only  in  a  comparative  sense,  and  in  reference  to  other 
works  of  the  old  miners.  The  levels  and  shafts  constructed  by  the  Copper  Falls 
Minmg  Company,  since  1851,  cause  the  mining  of  the  ancients  to  appear  like  mere 
exploratory  pits. 

On  looking  at  the  map,  the  pits  will  be  seen  to  occupy  a  total  length  of  several 
miles  on  this  location;  but  none  have  been  reopened  that  had  a  greater  depth  than 
twenty-four  feet,  while  the  modern  shaft  has  already  descended  more  than  250  feet, 
and  the  mine  has  rock  galleries  of  greater  total  length  than  all  the  old  trenches  of 
the  ancients.  In  the  profile  their  pits  are  shaded,  and  represented  at  a  a  a,  occupying 
about  half  a  mile  on  the  "East  Vein,"  or  as  it  is  sometimes  called,  the  "Copper 
Falls  Vein."  Before  they  were  obliterated,  as  they  are  in  part  now,  the  surface 
appearance  was  that  of  an  irregular  channel  or  trough  ascending  the  moimtain  from 
the  edge  of  the  sandstone  beds  to  the  band  d  d,  which  carries  copper.  Here  a 
system  of  basin-shaped  cavities,  broad,  circular,  and  deep,  crossed  those  made  on 
the  vein.     They  are  denoted  by  hea\'y  black  dots  on  the  map. 

The  first  named  series  were  from  two  to  five  feet  deep  and  five  to  ten  broad,  and 
the  latter  five  to  eighteen  deep,  with  a  diameter  of  twenty  to  120  feet.  Forest 
trees  and  underbrush  stood  alilce  within  and  without  them. 


10  ANCIENT   MINING 

There  is  a  heavy  vein  half  a  mUe  west  of  the  East  Vein,  which  is  styled  the 
West  or  the  "  Hill  Vein,"  where  the  old  works  are  similar  in  all  respects  to  those 
above  noticed  and  sketched  on  the  East  Vein.  Those  on  the  "Owl  Creek"  Vein 
are  not  so  extensive,  because  the  creek  occupies  the  "back"  of  the  lode.  Still 
further  east  other  veins  are  seen  with  pits,  not  only  on  this  location,  but  on  that  of 
the  Eagle  Harbor  Mining  Company.  Broken  stone  mauls  are  common  ua  all  of 
them.  About  the  point  Avhere  the  Owl  Creek  crosses  the  "  scoriaceous"  or  metal 
bearing  bed  d  <1,  the  excavations  on  that  bed  near  the  creek  are  very  marked. 
Here  is  something  similar  to  the  cave  on  the  Waterbury  Location. 

A  very  large  pit  to  the  east  of  Owl  Creek  was  partially  explored  by  S.  W.  HiU, 
Esq.,  the  Superintendent  of  the  mine,  in  1852.  By  running  in  an  adit  on  a  level 
eighteen  feet  below  the  edge  of  the  depression,  after  passing  some  distance  in  the 
gravel,  rock  Avas  met  in  place;  cutting  through  this  at  a  distance  of  100  feet,  the 
miners  discovered  loose  fragments  and  rubbish  that  had  been  handled,  and  pieces 
of  timber  stiU  in  good  preservation.  The  adit  was  not  deep  enough  to  drain  the 
pit  to  its  bottom,  and  its  depth  was  not  ascertained.  I  have  in  my  possession  a 
portion  of  a  pine  tree  from  the  end  of  this  adit,  in  complete  preservation,  except  a 
part  which  was  charred  by  fire.  The  adjacent  rock  contained  sheet  copper,  and 
small  lumps,  being  a  part  of  the  metalliferous  band. 

By  examining  the  section,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  order  of  succession  in  the  strata 
is  as  foUows: — 

Beginning  at  the  shore  of  the  lake  first,  a  bed  of  trap,  that  dips  northerly.  It 
rests  upon  a  stratum  of  red  con(jIomerate  of  great  thickness,  dipping  conformably 
under  the  trap,  and  is  succeeded  by  conformable  and  alternating  beds  of  trap  and 
red  sandstone,  known  by  the  geologist  as  the  "Potsdam"  red. 

In  these  beds  the  mineral  veins  are  not  rich  enough  for  working;  a  fact  which 
the  ancients  knew  full  well,  for  it  was  only  on  the  regular  and  uniform  strata  of  trap 
underlying  the  variable  beds  that  they  expended  their  labor. 

On  clearing  out  some  of  the  old  pits,  Mr.  HOI  found  wooden  shovels  like  those 
at  the  Waterbury  Mine,  more  or  less  worn  and  of  the  same  size  and  shape.  In 
the  bottom  of  trenches,  and  among  the  rubbish,  the  workmen  saw  continually  ashes 
and  charcoal,  with  other  traces  of  the  presence  of  fire.  They  threw  out  frequently 
broken  hammers  or  "mauls,"  with  a  groove  around  the  middle.  These  mauls  weigh 
from  five  to  fifteen  pounds,  and  are  merely  oblong  water-worn  boulders  of  hard, 
tough  rocks.  Nature  has  done  everything  in  fashioning  them,  except  the  groove, 
which  was  chiselled  around  the  middle.  They  were  collected  from  the  smooth 
boulders  of  the  lake  shore,  and  from  banks  of  coarse  gravel  that  abound  in  the 
country.  Most  of  them  are  trap;  but  the  hornblende,  sienitic  and  granitic  rocks 
furnish  some.  The  ring  or  groove  appears  to  have  been  cut  for  the  purpose  of 
attaching  a  withe,  to  be  used  as  a  handle,  wherewith  to  swing  the  maul.  In  one  of 
the  trenches  on  the  Cliff  Mine,  north  of  the  upper  engine,  one  was  found  with  a 
root  of  cedar  still  twisted  in  the  groove,  but  so  much  decayed  that  it  fcU  to  pieces 
and  was  not  brought  away.  Dr.  M.  D.  Senter,  of  the  Cliff  Mine,  states  that  he 
saw  it  before  being  disturbed,  and  it  was  evidently  the  intention  of  the  operators 
to  use  the  twisted  root  or  withe  for  a  handle. 


ON  THE  SHORES  OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR. 


11 


Most  of  these  hammers  are  fractured  at  hoth 
ends,  and  the  pecuhar  sharp  cut  character  of  the 
fracture  in  many  cases  mdicates  that  the  imple- 
ment had  been  used  to  drive  metallic  wedges,  such 
as  quarrymen  call  a  "gad."  Copper  gads  of  this 
kind  have  been  found  in  old  pits  at  the  Minnesota 
Mine.  It  wiU.  be  seen  also  that  there  are  heavier 
maxils  Avith  double  grooves,  probably  to  be  handled 
by  two  men. 

In  the  description  of  works  at  the  Central  Muie, 
a  class  of  hammers  will  be  noticed  without  a  groove.  The 
one  here  figured  was  taken  from  a  pit  near  Shaft  No.  1  of 
the  section  above  given.  Not  far  to  the  south  of  the  same 
shaft  was  found  a  copper  spear  or  javelin  head,  in  the  rub- 
bish near  the  bottom.  Three  others  were  found  by  Mr. 
Hill  on  the  surface.  One  of  them  was  so  much  corroded 
that  the  socket  was  nearly  gone.  The  other  I  have  sketched 
of  natural  size  and  thickness,  from  the  original  in  the  pos- 
session of  Mr.  HlU.  It  was  evidently  formed  by  beating  the 
metal  while  cold,  probably  between  stones,  having  a  rough 
and  not  a  polished  exterior;  it  is  not  much  decayed.  The 
section  of  the  blade  B  shows  that  its  two  faces  were  not 
symmetrical.  A  piece  of  decayed  wood  was  found  in  the 
socket  of  one  of  them,  being  apparently  the  remnant  of  the 
shaft,  by  which  it  was  hurled.  As  the  edges  of  the  "  shank" 
or  socket  are  not  soldered  together,  but  only  bent  around 
the  shaft,  it  was  probably  wound  with  some  ligament  to  give 
it  strength.  It  is  too  large  and  heavy  for  an  arrow-head; 
neither  has  it  the  shape  proper  for  that  purpose. 

The  description  here  given  of  the  pits  of  the  east  vein 
wUl  answer  for  almost  all  others. 

In  working  the  surface  of  the  vein,  or  of  the  copper-bearing 
bed,  the  ancient  operators  must  have  wrought  open  to  the 
day.  They  no  doubt  commenced  as  low  down  the  «lope  of 
the  range  as  the  copper  appeared  to  them  worth  being  taken 
out,  and  worked  upwards  towards  the  south,  in  order  to  keep 
their  drainage.  From  their  rude  and  tedious  method  it  was 
of  the  highest  consequence  to  cause  the  water  to  flow  away 
behind  them,  without  the  necessity  of  baling. 

The  "attle,"  or  broken  rock,  was  generally  throAvn  back 
into  the  vacant  space  whence  it  had  been  taken :  but  little  of 
it  was  cast  out  to  right  and  left  along  the  margin  of  the  vein, 
which  explains  Avhy  the  pits  are  so  shallow  at  the  present  time. 

In  many  places  on  this  location,  the  vein  is  wide  enough  to 
allow  men  to  work  between  its  walls. 


Stone  Hammer  or  Macl,  with  one  groove, 
and  broken  by  use ;  length  7  inches. 
Copper  Falls  Mine. 

Fig.  5. 


Copper  Speak-uead — Copper 
Falls  Mine. — B.  Section  of 
bl.ade  .at  c  d.  A.  Section  of 
shank  at  a  b.  Scale,  full 
size. 


12  ANCIENT   MINING 

Thin  sheets  of  copper  were  left  standing  at  the  bottom  of  the  ancient  excavation, 
which  might  readily  have  been  extracted,  and  it  seems  singular  that  they  were  not. 

Central  Mine. — Near  the  road  from  the  "North  Western"  to  the  "Winthrop" 
Mine,  in  an  open  grove  of  sugar  trees,  a  depression  was  observed  about  five  feet 
deep  and  thirty  feet  in  length.  It  was  generally  free  from  water,  and  differed  so 
little  from  cavities  that  are  not  artificial,  but  which  are  due  to  geological  causes, 
that  it  did  not  attract  much  attention. 

Mr,  Jolm  SlaAvson,  the  agent  of  the  North  Western  Mine,  after  a  careful  surface 
examination,  concluded  that  this  pit  was  not  wholly  due  to  nature,  and  the  tract 
was  on  that  accomit  purchased  for  mirung,  in  the  fall  of  1854. 

Fig.  6. 


/ 

Centkal  Mine.  Section  of  tlie  vein  and  old  pit.     East  and  west. — A  A.  Trap  rock  wall  of  tlie  vein  d  d. — a.  Ancient 
excavation  partlj  filled. — c  c.  Masses  of  native  copper  in  the  vein. — b  b.  Drift  gravel  covering  the  rocks. 

The  Central  Mining  Company  having  been  organized,  a  drain  was  constructed  to 
take  off  the  water,  which  was  no  sooner  done  than  all  doubts  were  removed;  about 
five  feet  in  depth  of  leaves  and  rotten  sticks  had  accumulated  at  the  bottom,  among 
which  a  hard  substance  could  be  felt  with  a  stick. 

This  proved  to  be  a  flat  piece  of  native  copper  C,  from  five  to  nine' inches  thick,  and 
niae  feet  in  length,  forming  part  of  a  large  vein  d  d,  as  shown  in  the  profile.  The 
vein  material  had  been  worked  away  from  one  foot  to  eighteen  inches  along  side  of 
it,  and  it  extended  forward  as  well  as  doAvnward  in  the  vein.  Its  upper  edge  had 
been  beaten  by  the  stone  mauls  so  severely,  that  a  lip,  or  projecting  ?•('?«,  had  been 
formed,  which  was  bent  downwards,  over  the  sides.  A  large  number  of  broken 
mauls  were  found  in  the  place,  and  around  it  on  the  surface,  aU  of  them  without 
grooves,  of  which  the  annexed  woodcut  is  an  illustration. 

I  have  seen  similar  ones  on  the  Humboldt  Location,  next  west  of  Copper  Falls. 
Where  this  class  of  stone  hammers  is  found,  those  with  grooves  are  wanting.  The 
grooveless  ones  appear  to  have  been  used  for  percussion  only  at  one  end,  as  though 
the  manner  of  holding  them  was  such  that  a  blow  was  not  given  on  the  other. 

The  Peruvians  have  a  copper  axe  without  an  eye,  or  a  groove,  to  which,  hoAv- 
ever,  they  attach  a  handle  in  the  form  of  a  split  stick,  bound  with  thongs.  The 
ancient  miners,  probably,  had  some  such  mode  of  tying  a  handle  to  these  smooth 


ON  THE  SHORES  OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  13 

oblong  stones.  Different  parties  of  men  may  have  preferred  tools  of  different  kinds, 
Avhich  would  accoimt  for  mauls,  which  are  seen  at  one  mine,  being  among  them- 
selves alike,  but  dissimilar  to  those  at  other  places. 

Fi-g.  V. 


Bkoken  Maui,  Central  Mine. — Without  groove,  J  size,  weight  ?J  lbs. 

The  usual  rcmams  were  here  thro^vn  out,  consisting  of  charcoal,  ashes,  and  broken 
wall  rock. 

The  general  bearing  of  the  vein  is  10°  or  12°  west  of  north.  The  section  is 
made  across  it,  east  and  west,  looking  south,  and  is  vertical. 

As  the  labor  of  imcovering  the  mass  of  copper  progressed,  another  one  was  met 
with,  overlapping  the  first,  and  adhering  to  the  east  wall.  Further  on,  in  tlie  adit, 
a  third  mass  was  found,  attached  to  the  western  wall,  partly  overlapping  the  one 
which  the  ancients  had  left. 

By  stoping  out  a  space  about  sixty  feet  in  length  by  twenty  deep,  on  the  vein, 
the  Company  took  out  fifty-three  tons  of  mass  copper.  Such  imwieldy  pieces 
appear  to  have  been  beyond  the  control  of  the  old  miners.  /  -TlicS  object  seems  to 
have  been  to  secure  small  lumps,  such  as  could  be  fasl^oned  without  melting. 
Whatever  pieces  might  have  been  detached,  by  diligent  poimding  with  their  stone 
mauls,  were  broken  off,  and  the  remainder  was  abandoned. 

It  was  impossible  for  them  to  cut  into  pieces,  reduce  by  melting,  raise  from  the 
pit,  or  transport  blocks  of  metal  weighing  many  tons.  There  are  neither  marks  of 
a  cutting  tool  upon  them,  nor  of  the  action  of  fire.  It  is  quite  singular  that  they 
had  not  discovered  the  art  of  melting  copper,  which  can  be  effected  so  easily  in  an 
open  fire  made  of  wood,  but  no  evidences  have  fallen  under  our  notice  that  this 
was  done  by  that  ancient  race. 


14 


ANCIENT  MINING 


2d  Group. 

Portage  Lahe  Region. 

Quincy  and  Pewahic  Mines. — Portage  Lake  resembles  in  form  the  long,  narrow, 
and  crooked  Scottish  lochs.  Like  them  its  quiet  surface  reflects  the  outlines  of 
most  exquisite  scenery. 

It  connects  with  Lake  Superior  through  the  channel  of  Sturgeon  Eiver,  which 
has  so  little  descent  below  the  point  of  junction,  that  aU  material  changes  in  the 
level  of  the  great  lake  are  felt  throughout  this  inland  water. 

The  Quincy  landing  is  situated  on  the  north  side  of  Portage  Lake,  about  twenty 
mUes  from  Keweenaw  Bay.  The  northern  shore,  Avhich  is  nearly  east  and  west  at 
the  landing,  does  not  show  rocks  at  the  water  level. 

A  succession  of  drift,  knoUs,  points,  and  headlands,  rising  about  200  feet  above 
the  surface,  overlook  this  shore.  Above  this  elevation,  and  attaining  a  height  of 
500  to  600  feet,  are  seen  projecting  ledges  and  bluffs  of  trap  rock,  inclosing  mineral 
veins.  This  rock  is  also  visible  at  the  heads  of  ravines  where  rivulets  faU  over  low 
precipices  forming  small  cataracts. 

The  first  signs  of  ancient  excavations  occur  near  the  lake  level,  and  what  is 
remarkable,  are  not  in  the  rock,  but  in  the  sand  and  boulder  "  drift." 

Fig.  8. 


Ancieni  Pits  in  the  Boclder  Crift  or  Gravel,  Qdincy  Location. 


The  most  capacious  of  these  gravel  pits,  however,  occur  on  a  line  nearly  level 
and  about  100  feet  above  the  surface  of  the  water. 


ON  THE  SHORES  OP  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  15 

They  are  partly  upon  the  land  of  the  Quincy  Mining  Company  and  in  part  on 
the  Pewabic,  a  short  distance  east  of  the  landing,  as  sliown  in  the  sketch.  Those 
constituting  the  upper  series  are  even,  broad,  deep,  and  regular,  having  the  appear- 
ance of  old  fortifications.  They  extend  around  the  headlands  of  gravel,  connecting 
adjacent  ravines,  as  though  the  object  was  to  bring  Avater  from  the  rivulets  along 
the  face  of  the  bluff. 

At  the  points  of  the  ridges  they  are  much  broader  and  deeper  than  they  are  at 
the  heads  of  the  ravines.  The  resemblance  to  a  race  way,  or  "  sluice  "  for  runnuig 
water,  is  such  that  it  required  much  examination  to  convince  me  that  they  had 
not  been  used  for  that  purpose.  There  are,  however,  no  openings  at  the  extremi- 
ties, such  as  would  have  been  the  case  in  sluices,  to  admit  and  discharge  water. 
A  bench,  or  narrow  terrace,  breaking  into  the  slope  of  the  hill,  forms  a  regular 
plateau  for  the  uppermost  group ;  the  other  groups  being  scattered  along  the  slope 
at  irregular  intervals.  Some  of  them  extend  down  the  declivity  nearly  to  the 
water's  edge.  Pits  of  a  peculiar  shape  are  occasionally  seen  to  the  Avestward  of 
the  landing,  particularly  at  the  distance  of  about  a  mile.  Here  is  a  group  of  small 
ones  covering  several  acres  on  a  piece  of  level  land,  which  is  elevated  about  200 
feet  above  the  lake,  constituting  one  of  the  upper  drift  terraces. 

There  are  no  doubt  many  others,  large  and  small,  concealed  by  the  thick  brush 
wood  with  which  the  ground  is  covered.  Mr.  C.  C.  Douglass,  formerly  an  assistant 
of  Dr.  Houghton,  in  the  geological  survey  of  the  Upper  Peninsula,  and  since  for 
many  years  the  superintendent  of  the  Quincy  and  Isle  Royale  Mining  Companies, 
states  that  lumps  of  water-roUed  copper  and  small  masses  are  frequently  found  on 
both  sides  of  the  lake  in  this  drift  gravel.  In  digging  cellars,  constructing  roads, 
and  exploring  trenches,  such  pieces  are  so  common,  that  it  has  been  thought  that 
they  Avould  pay  for  their  coUection  by  washing  the  earth.  One  mass  of  1500 
pounds  weight  was  found  in  digging  a  cellar  where  there  is  no  rock  visible  in  place. 

To  obtain  this  transported  mineral,  Mr.  Douglass  conjectures  to  have  been  the 
object  which  the  ancients  pursued  in  their  gravel  trenches,  and  at  the  same  time, 
that  they  selected  from  the  water-worn  boulders  of  the  coarse  drift  such  stones  as 
had  the  proper  size  and  shape  for  mauls,  to  be  used  in  the  adjacent  rock  excava- 
tions. 

The  earth  from  the  trenches  near  the  landing,  on  the  slopes,  was  principally 
throAvn  out  over  the  loioer  side,  forming  embankments  with  an  extreme  height  of 
fifteen  feet  above  the  bottom  of  the  ditch  as  it  remains  now  after  the  lapse  of 
centuries. 

Some  of  the  ditches  are  fifty  feet  wide  at  the  present  time. 

The  beds  of  trap,  constituting  the  mineral  range,  at  this  place,  have  a  total 
thickness  of  about  a  mile  and  a  half,  presenting  the  ends  of  the  strata  towards 
the  lake.  To  reach  the  rock  excavation  of  the  ancients,  it  is  necessary  to  foUow 
a  road  from  the  landing  up  the  mountain  three-quarters  of  a  mile  to  the  north- 
east. Here  the  copper  bearing  rocks  protrude  from  the  soil  in  ledges;  the 
intervals  where  no  rock  is  seen  being  covered  to  a  slight  depth  with  earth. 
The  veins  of  this  part  of  the  range  have  a  direction  different  from  those  before 
described  on  Point  Keweenaw.     They  have  run  with  the  formation,  and  not  at 


IQ  ANCIENT   MINING 

right  angles  to  it,  like  those  at  the  Cliff,  Copper  Falls,  Northwest,  and  other  neigh- 
boring mines.  The  true  lodes  of  the  Quincy,  Pewabic,  Isle  Royale,  Portage,  Huron, 
and  other  companies  adjacent  to  Portage  Lake,  are  called  ''parallels,"  while  those 
further  east  belong  to  the  system  of  "  transverse"  veins. 

In  the  winter  of  185-1-5,  after  the  land  had  been  explored  and  worked  ten  years, 
a  line  of  depressions  wa^  discovered  on.  the  summit  of  the  range  that  attracted 
immediate  attention.  On  this  elevated  groimd  the  old  operators  had  discovered 
and  worked  a  rich  deposit  of  copper  which  was  nowhere  visible  upon  the  surface. 
The  direction  of  the  line  of  pits  is  northeast  and  southwest,  corresponding  with 
the  range. 

The  mines  now  in  operation  on  this  lode  are  among  the  richest  of  Lake  Superior. 

At  first  view  the  excavations  appeared  to  be  irregidar,  like  those  in  the  gravel  at 
the  foot  of  the  bluffs,  but  after  clearing  away  the  growing  timber,  they  assumed  an 
allignment  such  as  I  have  given  on  the  map.  There  are  also  veins  in  the  vicinity 
that  have  a  bearing  different  from  the  general  course  of  the  pits. 

When  the  cavities  came  to  be  opened,  it  was  evident  that  a  deposit  of  great . 
richness  had  been  worked  there  in  past  times.  Lumps  of  copper  were  found  plen- 
tifully in  the  bottom  of  the  old  works,  and  with  them  the  usual  evidences  of  ancient 
mining.     The  pits  are  broad  and  deep,  extending  not  far  from  half  a  mUe. 

Me  Eoyale  Location. — This  is  on  the  south  side  of  Portage  Lake.  Here  tlie 
ground  does  not  rise  so  high  as  on  the  north  side,  but  is  equally  abrupt.  The  first 
escarpment  on  this  side  is  rocky,  its  crest  being  reached  by  an  ascent  of  300  feet. 
The  mining  companies  which  have  penetrated  the  rocky  strata  to  a  depth  of  at 
least  250  feet,  are  the  Isle  Royale,  Portage,  Huron,  and  Albion ;  aU  of  them  on  the 
same  vein,  and  situated  near  the  south-easterly  edge  of  the  mineral  range.  The 
beds  in  which  these  companies  have  worked  are,  therefore,  geologically,  nearly  a 
mile  lower  than  those  of  the  Quincy  and  Pewabic,  which  are  near  the  westerly  or 
north-westerly  side  of  the  range.  It  Avas,  therefore,  in  different  ground  that  the 
ancients  sought  for  copper  on  the  southerly  side  of  the  lake. 

After  having  attained  the  summit  of  the  lake  front  on  this  shore,  we  find  the 
land  nearly  level  for  the  distance  of  a  mile,  and  the  rocks  covered  with  a  shallow 
depth  of  earth.  On  this  plateau  the  ancients  discovered  a  rich  lode  that  did  not 
show  itself  on  the  surface. 

In  the  autumn  of  1851,  Mr.  Douglass  informed  me  that  there  were  indistinct 
signs  of  old  works,  half  a  mile  from  the  lake  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  Section 
1,  T.  53,  R.  34,  owned  by  the  Isle  Royale  Mining  Company.  At  the  requ.est  of  the 
directors  of  the  company,  a  close  reconnoissance  of  the  ground  was  immediately 
made  by  myself.  It  required  some  assistance  of  the  imagination  to  conceive  that 
the  slight  and  irregular  depressions,  which  were  dimly  visible  among  the  trees,  were 
the  works  of  men.  Applying  a  compass  to  such  of  them  as  could  be  seen  at  one 
view,  and  carrying  this  line  forward,  it  passed  over  or  near  the  successive  pits  for  a 
distance  of  one-third  of  a  mile.  We  then  set  men  to  work  to  cut  down  a  cross 
trench  through  one  of  them,  and  in  a  few  hours  reached  the  bottom.  The  vein 
and  its  walls  were  distinctly  visible,  having  been  worked  out  to  a  depth  of  ten  feet, 


ON  THE  SHORES  OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR. 


17 


but  the  space  was  filled  with  rubbish  nearly  to  the  surface.  Further  examination, 
and  cross  trenching,  disclosed  the  vein  along  a  distance  of  three  quarters  of  a  mile, 
in  places  very  broad,  with  a  bearing  coincident  to  that  of  the  formation. 

It  has  now  been  worked  to  a  depth  of  250  feet,  producing  copper  in  rich  masses, 
over  a  space  twenty  feet  in  thickness.  In  these  wide  places  or  pockets  the  early 
mmers  enlarged  their  pits  to  correspond,  and  carried  their  works  to  greater  depths. 
Charcoal,  broken  mauls,  and  ashes  are  mixed  with  the  black  earth  and  rocky  frag- 
ments of  the  pits. 

3d  Group. 


Minnesota  Mine. — As  I  have  before  stated,  it  was  upon  this  location  that  the  exist- 
ence of  mines,  long  since  wrought,  on  Lake  Superior  was  first  made  known  to  us. 
It  is  here,  also,  that  the  most  extensive  and  interesting  works  of  that  kind  are  to  be 
found. 

The  Minnesota  lodes  have  a  direction  like  those  at  Portage  Lake,  and  different 
from  those  at  Point  Keweenaw.  The  veins  about  the  forks  of  the  Ontonagon, 
embracing  a  district  of  forty-five  miles  in  length,  on  the  mineral  range,  from  the 
Douglass  Houghton  Mine,  on  the  east,  to  the  Akogebe  Lake,  on  the  west,  run  tritk 
the  range,  and  not  across  it.  Their  bearing  is,  therefore,  north-easterly  and  south- 
westerly, or  about  N.  5-4°  East. 

Fig.  9. 


Minnesota  Mine.  Section  across  the  Vein,  looking  from  the  easterly  quarter.  N.  30o  W. — B  B.  Mineral  vein 
dipping  north. — A  A.  Wall  rock  of  compact  trap. — a.  a.  Left  standing  a  part  of  the  original  surface  suppoi-t 
to  the  hanging  wall. — m.  Mass  of  copper  sustained  hy  timbers. — 6.  Ancient  burrow  or  spoil  bank. — c  n.  Vein 
matter  embracing  masses  of  copper  «  »i. 

On  the  Minnesota  there  is  a  group  of  veins  nearly  parallel  among  themselves, 
four  in  number,  and  on  all  these  the  ancients  labored.     The  surface  presents  a  cor- 


18  ANCIENT  MINING 

responding  group  of  rude  trenches,  showing  the  position  of  the  veins,  for  more  than 
two  miles.  The  ground  rises  gradually  to  a  height  of  637  feet  above  the  lake,  but 
on  the  south  drops  suddenly  off  into  a  deep  valley.  The  Ontonagon  River  cuts  the 
range  two  and  a  half  miles  west  of  the  mine,  being  navigable  for  batteaux  to  the 
landing. 

In  the  above  section,  across  the  main  lode,  I  have  grouped  together  several 
remarkable  objects,  that  were  seen  near  each  other,  thoiigh  not  strictly  in  contact. 
The  descriptions  and  sketches  are  in  part  due  to  Mr.  Knapp,  partly  to  Messrs.  Foster 
and  Whitney,  and  also  to  my  personal  examinations. 

The  vein  B  B  has  a  variable  thickness  from  one  to  nine  feet,  dipping  northerly,  at 
an  angle  of  about  60°  with  the  horizon.  This  is  somewhat  steeper  than  the  dip  of 
the  strata,  or  wall  rock,  A  A.  On  some  of  the  veins,  the  excavations  extend  east- 
ward, out  of  the  Minnesota,  into  the  grounds  of  the  Rockland  Mining  Company, 
Avhere  they  are  very  distinct.  Being  upon  the  southerly  slope  of  the  momitain,  the 
ditches  have  become  very  much  fiUed  up  by  washing  from  the  surface.  The  greatest 
depth  of  the  ancient  excavation  is  thirty  feet.  At  the  place  of  the  above  section 
the  vein  had  been  removed  to  a  depth  of  twenty-six  feet. 

Not  far  below  the  apparent  bottom  of  a  trough-like  cavity  where  shaft  No.  one  is 
now  situated,  among  a  mass  of  leaves,  sticks,  and  water,  Mr.  Knapp  discovered  a 
detached  mass  of  copper  weighing  nearly  six  tons.  It  lay  upon  a  cob  work  of  round 
logs  or  skids  six  to  eight  inches  in  diameter,  the  ends  of  which  showed  plainly  the 
strokes  of  a  small  axe  or  cutting  tool  about  2i  inches  wide.  These  marks  were 
perfectly  distinct.  A  piece  of  this  wood  which  I  took  from  the  mine  in  1849  proved 
to  be  a  species  of  oak,  the  only  species  known  upon  the  range,  and  by  some  called 
the  Spanish  oak.  It  shrunk  on  drying  to  about  two-thirds  of  its  size,  cracking  open 
in  deep  gashes,  and  possessed  little  strength.  Its  appearance  was  that  of  water- 
soaked  timber  not  rotted,  preserving  its  origiaal  form. 

The  mass  of  copper  had  been  raised  several  feet  along  the  foot  wall  of  the  lode, 
on  the  timbers,  by  means  of  wedges.  Its  upper  surface  and  edges  were  beaten  and 
pounded  smooth,  all  the  irregidarities  taken  off,  and  aroimd  the  outside  a  rim  or  lip 
was  formed,  bending  downwards.  This  work  had  apparently  been  done  after  the 
miners  had  concluded  to  abandon  the  mass.  Such  copper  as  could  be  separated  by 
their  tools  was  thus  broken  off.  The  beaten  surface  was  smooth  and  polished,  not 
rough.  Near  it  were  found,  as  the  excavation  advanced,  other  masses,  n  n,  imbedded 
in  the  vein.  After  several  years,  this  vein  has  been  found  by  the  modem  miners 
uncommonly  rich  and  valuable  for  the  size  and  number  of  its  masses  of  copper. 

Not  far  to  the  west  of  this  spot  a  portion  of  the  vein  a  a  had  been  left  like  a 
pillar  as  a  support  to  the  hanging  Avail,  while  they  excavated  beneath.  It  is  cut  or 
bruised  quite  smooth,  but  shows  no  marks  of  other  tools  than  the  mauls.  This 
rocky  support  is  about  four  feet  in  thickness,  and  is  high  enough  above  the  present 
bottom  of  the  trench  to  allow  a  person  to  pass  under  it.  The  marks  of  fire  on  the 
rocks  of  the  walls  are  stiU  evident.  Charcoal,  ashes,  and  stone  mauls  are  found  in  all 
of  the  pits  hitherto  cleaned  out.  One  of  the  heaviest  mauls  yet  seen,  weighing  thirty- 
six  pounds,  came  from  this  location.  It  has  a  dovble  groove,  as  shown  in  the  annexed 
figure,  which  is  not  usual,  and  it  was  intended,  no  doubt,  to  be  used  by  two  men. 


ON  THE  SHORES  OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR. 

Fi?.  10.  Fig-  Il- 


ls 


Stone  Maul,  with  double  grooves. — Weight  36  lbs. 
Minnesota  Mine. 

In  one  of  the  pits  a  rude  ladder  was  found, 
formed  of  an  oak  tree  trimmed  so  as  to  leave 
the  stumps  of  the  branches  projecting,  on 
which  men  could  readily  descend  or  ascend 
to  or  from  their  work.  Wooden  levers  are 
also  found  among  the  rubbish,  preserved  by 
water,  which  covered  them  continually. 

On  the  edge  of  the  excavation  in  which 
the  mass  m  was  found  there  stood  an  aged 
hemlock,  the  roots  of  which  extended  across 
the  ditch.  I  counted  the  rings  of  annual 
growth  on  its  stump,  and  found  them  to  be 
two  hundred  and  ninety.  Mr.  Knapp  men- 
tions another  tree  which  had  three  hundred 
and  ninety-five.  The  fallen  and  decayed 
trunks  of  trees  of  a  previous  generation 
were  seen  lying  across  the  pits. 

Near  the  place  where  the  detached  mass 
m  was  found  Mr.  HUl  discovered  a  tool  of 
which  the  following  is  a  sketch,  and  near  it 
a  copper  maul  or  sledge  weighing  from 
twenty  to  twenty-five  pounds.  Like  aU  the 
other  implements  found  this  maul  had  been 
fashioned  by  pounding  in  a  cold  state. 
Originally  the  mass  appeared  to  have  had 
the  shape  of  the  letter  T,  the  cross  head  at 
the  top  being  about  an  inch  thick  and  two 
or  three  inches  broad,  tapering  towards  each 
end.  These  two  prongs  had  been  folded 
over  each  other  and  beaten  into  a  shape 

rudely  resembling  a  man's  fist,  but  larger.  This  lump  of  copper  had  evidently  been 
battered  either  by  pounding,  to  make  it  more  compact,  or  by  use  as  a  maul.  The 
handle  of  the  maul  was  eight  or  nine  inches  long. 


Copper  Chisel.  Full  size. — Length  7^ 
1.;  breadth  1|  in.;  thickness  f 
1.     Minnesota  Mine. 


View  edge- 
wise. 


20  ANCIENT   MINING 

The  chisel  above  figured  was  somewhat  bruised  at  the  upper  end,  as  though  it 
had  been  used.  Towards  the  upper  end  the  corners  are  taken  off,  apparently  for 
the  purpose  of  being  held  in  one  hand,  while  it  was  struck  by  a  mallet  Avith  the 
other.  It  has  a  rough  surface,  common  to  these  relics,  but  is  symmetrical  in  form, 
with  a  bevel  at  the  cutting  edge  on  both  sides.  None  of  the  tools  show  signs  of 
having  been  ground  to  an  edge  on  stone,  but  are  beaten  down  roughly  by  hammers. 

Artificial  Caverns.— On  the  Aztec,  Ohio,  Adventure,  and  Eidge  locations,  in 
addition  to  the  pits  which  are  so  common  along  the  range,  there  are  cavities  in  the 
mural  faces  of  trap  at  various  elevations,  which  are  ancient  and  belong  to  the  old 
copper  works. 

The  bluffs  are  sometimes  as  high  as  three  hundred  feet  above  the  valley.  There 
are  also  breaks  or  gaps  in  the  range  formed  by  dislocations  of  the  strata  or  faults, 
enlarged  by  the  wearing  action  of  the  drift  forces.  The  ends  of  different  beds  of 
trap  are  thus  presented  to  view,  rising  on  either  side  of  the  gorges,  with  precipitous 
fronts  of  different  heights.  One  of  the  strata,  and  perhaps  more  than  one,  is 
metalliferous,  like  the  scoriaceous  bed  worked  at  Copper  Falls  and  at  Phoenix 
Mines,  on  Point  Keweenaw.  At  the  Adventure  the  metal  bearing  stratum  is  very 
thick  and  highly  charged  with  copper,  disseminated  irregularly  through  it.  The 
ancients  wrought  upon  it  extensively,  seeking  with  assiduity  for  the  rich  portions, 
no  matter  how  difficult  of  access.  Some  of  their  excavations  on  the  side  of  the 
bluff  are  scarcely  large  enough  to  shelter  a  bear.  Others  are  more  extensive, 
formed  in  aU  conceivable  shapes,  extending  wherever  indications  of  minerals  were 
apparent.  The  agents  of  the  Adventure  Mine  have  followed  the  example  of  their 
predecessors,  but  on  a  larger  scale,  pursuing  the  strings  and  bunches  of  copper  in 
all  directions,  till  they  disappear.  When  the  mineral  fails,  like  the  ancients  they 
strike  off  at  random,  and  seldom  proceed  far  without  encoimtering  other  lumps  or 
small  masses. 

Hitherto  the  true  veins  near  the  copper  bearing  stratum  have  not  proved  profit- 
able. The  ancients,  exercising  their  usual  skiU,  expended  very  little  labor  upon 
them.  They  showed  in  this  very  considerable  knowledge  respecting  the  different 
systems  of  veins,  and  also  in  regard  to  those  anomalous  deposits  ur  which  the  caves 
are  situated. 

Forest  Mine,  Evergreen  Bluffs. — On  the  ground  known  by  the  name  of  the  Ever- 
green Bluffs  ancient  pits  have  been  opened  southeasterly  of  the  Minnesota  works. 
Some  prominent  ones  have  recently  (1855)  been  cleared  out  on  the  "Johnson 
preemption,"  which  disclosed  in  a  few  days  several  tons  of  copper.  Masses  had 
been  partly  uncovered  in  the  vein,  as  at  the  Central  Mine,  and  thus  left.  On  the 
Nebraska  location  and  on  the  Rockland,  the  old  excavations  are  numerous,  and 
wherever  they  are  reopened  valuable  lodes  are  exposed.  They  are  not  wanting  on 
the  west  of  the  river.  At  the  Forest  Mine  the  present  works  were  commenced 
upon  the  site  of  earlier  and  ancient  operations.  A  wooden  bowl  was  found  near 
the  bottom  of  one  of  them,  that  had  been  used  for  baling.  Doubtless  many  others 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  Ontonagon  exist  that  are  not  yet  discovered. 


ON  THE  SHORES  OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  21 

Fig.  12.  Fig.  14. 


li.m. 
Section  on  a  b,  full  size. 


\\^ 


Fig.  13. 


CoppEK  Gad,  full  size. 
Minnesota  Mine. 


Section  on  c  d,  full  size. 


Iv\  c, 


Spear  Head. — Half  size.  14  inches 
long.  Ontonagon.  From  draw- 
ings of  John  F.  Mnllowne7, 
Esq.,  Surveyor. 


Chisel. — Half  size.  13  inches 
long.     Ontonagon. 


22  ANCIENT   MINING 

Copper  Implements,  Ontonagon. — Some  laborers  in  the  employ  of  Mr.  Greenfielcl 
were  levelling  the  ground  for  a  brick  yard  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Ontonagon  River, 
half  a  mile  above  the  village,  in  the  year  1854,  when  they  perceived  some  pieces 
of  copper,  which  were  well  fashioned  implements.  They  are  said  to  have  been 
found  upon  a  bed  of  clay  in  a  ravine,  and  covered  about  two  feet  with  alluvial 
earth,  a  large  cedar  tree  growing  nearly  over  the  spot.  They  consist  of  two  imple- 
ments, which  may  be  described  as  spear  or  javelin  heads,  though  more  probably 
designed  as  miners'  tools;  and  two  cutting  instruments  that  may  properly  be  called 
chisels,  as  shown  in  the  annexed  sketches.  These  show  the  form  and  size  better 
than  any  written  description.  The  socket  of  the  spear  is  small,  and  not  of  the  best 
shape  to  give  a  good  fastening  to  a  stafi,  which  may  perhaps  favor  the  idea  that  it 
was  a  weapon  for  the  use  of  one  hand,  like  a  dirk.  The  blade  is  symmetrical  and 
strong;  it  apparently  had  not  been  much  bruised  or  injured  by  use.  If  it  was  to 
be  thrown  like  a  javelin,  the  stock  or  staff  must  have  been  fitted  on  around  the 
shank  and  driven  down  over  the  blade  some  distance,  to  make  the  wooden  attach- 
ment proportionally  strong  with  the  metal  part. 

The  chisel  also  had  not  been  used,  since  neither  the  cutting  edge  nor  the  head 
is  battered.  It  is  bent  up  longitudinally  from  near  each  end  in  the  manner 
shown  by  the  cross  section  in  c  d.  The  object  in  giving  it  this  form  must  have 
been  to  stiffen  it  and  thus  save  metal.  This  contrivance  speaks  well  for  the  inge- 
nuity of  the  maker.  Those  instruments  have  better  proportions  than  similar  ones 
found  in  Ohio.  They  were  probably  fresh  from  the  hands  of  the  workman  when 
they  were  lost  upon  the  banks  of  the  river.  Although  I  have  myself  examined 
these  implements,  I  am  indebted  to  Messrs.  Emerson,  Coburn,  and  Mxillowney  for 
facts  respecting  them.  Both  are  represented  to  be  more  hard  and  less  malleable 
than  the  native  copper  of  the  mines,  from  which  it  has  been  inferred  that  they  have 
undergone  a  hardening  process.  Like  those  found  at  Marquette  and  elsewhere,  I 
suppose  the  hardness  is  due  only  to  prolonged  hammering,  by  which  the  density  is 
increased.  The  copper  of  the  ancient  inhabitants  of  Europe  was  hardened  by 
alloying  it  with  tin. 

Copper  Implements,  Carp  River.  (Not  on  the  Map.) — In  August,  1854,  while 
workmen  were  engaged  for  Mr.  John  Burt  in  m.aking  a  dam  across  the  Carp 
Biver  near  Marquette,  signs  of  copper  were  discovered  in  gravel.  They  were 
wheeling  earth  from  the  banks  of  the  stream,  and  did  not  at  first  preserve  the 
remains  that  were  visible  in  the  form  of  spots  of  green  carbonate,  which  on  exam- 
ination presented  a  core  of  unoxidized  metal.  Mr.  Burt  states  that  there  were 
numerous  thin  chips  of  copper  not  entirely  decayed,  which  appeared  to  have  been 
cut  from  a  piece  of  native  metal  by  a  sharp  and  thin  tool.  There  was  also  foimd  a 
rude  copper  knife,  the  shank  two  and  a  half  inches,  and  the  blade  four  and  a  half 
in  length,  making  seven  inches.  The  blade  resembles  in  shape  a  short  butcher 
knife  very  much  worn.  It  has  spots  of  native  silver  imbedded  in  it  like  those 
frequently  seen  in  Lake  Superior  specimens  of  copper. 

Another  tool  resembles  a  bodkin,  with  a  socket  for  the  insertion  of  a  wooden 
handle.  There  were  also  arrow  or  spear  heads  of  copper,  which  were  probably 
made  upon  the  spot.     These  relics  were  lying  upon  a  bed  of  water-washed  gravel. 


ON   THE  SHORES  OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR. 


23 


Fig.  15. 


Fig.  16. 


which  Mr.  Burt  conjectures  once  formed  the  bed  of  the  river,  hut  the  channel  of 
this  time  is  ten  feet  lower.  Soil  had  accumulated  over  the  tools  to  a  depth  of  two 
feet,  and  on  it  were  pine  trees,  considered  to  be  at  least  one  lumdred  years  of  age. 

The  knife  was  harder  than  the  chips,  and 
does  not  bend  so  easily.  This  hardness  is 
probably  due  to  the  process  of  hammering 
which  the  mass  underwent  while  it  was  in  a 
cold  state,  and  not  to  any  tempering.  If  the 
bodlvin-like  implement  had  not  been  of  this 
parcel  the  others  might  have  been  referred 
to  the  present  race  of  Indians.  They  pos- 
sessed knives  and  other  implements  made 
of  copper  when  the  French  came  among 
them,  but  these  were  very  rude.  Mr. 
Baily,  of  Eagle  Harbor,  has  one  which 
resembles  somewhat  the  semilunar  knife 
used  by  saddlers.  There  is  a  notch  in  the 
middle  by  which  to  attach  a  handle.  Mr. 
B.  thinks  it  was  used  in  dressing  and  work- 
ing skins.  It  was  found  in  the  gravel  within 
the  pickets  at  Fort  Wilkins,  Copper  Harbor. 

Near  the  mouth  of  Carp  River  there  are 
remains  of  cabins,  placed  in  a  row  like  the 
houses  of  a  vUlage.  This  is  shown  by  a 
line  of  heaps  of  stone  and  clay,  like  the 
remains  of  chimneys,  and  connected  with 
them  slight  ridges  of  clay,  resembling  the 
low  embankments  around  a  log  building 
after  the  timber  has  decayed.  They  may 
have  been  formed  of  clay  which  was  used 
to  daub  the  chinks.  A  forest  of  ancient 
growth  covered  these  ruins.  Although  I 
know  of  no  historical  evidence  illustrating 
the  point,  I  should  hesitate  to  give  them  a 
greater  antiquity  than  the  early  French  ad- 
venturers. It  is  about  two  hundred  years 
since  the  Jesuits  established  themselves  on 
Lake  Superior.  Traders  may  have  preceded 
them  thirty  years,  and  constructed  cabins  at 
places  not  mentioned  by  the  Jesuits. 

I  have  seen  the  ruins  of  buildings  on  the 
west  fork  of  the  Ontonagon,  near  the  old 
Copper   Rock,    the   history  of  which   has 
reached  us,  and  which  were  erected  in  1769.    In  1845,  eighty-four  years  afterwards, 
aU  the  logs  except  such  as  were  of  cedar,  had  disappeared.     Near  a  cabin  which 


Pointed  Tool  with  a 
Socket.— Full  size. 
Carp  River. 


RnDE  Copper   Knife. — Full  size. 
Carp  River.  1,  2.  Spots  of  silver. 


24 


ANCIENT  MINING 


was  used  for  a  blacksmith  shop,  the  outlines  of  a  dforge  were  quite  distinct,  with 
cinders,  charcoal,  and  pieces  of  rusty  iron  lying  upon  it.  There  were  also  several 
pounds  of  corroded  steel  and  brass,  mostly  the  locks  and  guards  of  muskets,  and 


Copper  Instkument, — Full  size.     Fort  Wilkins. 


Section  through  a  b. 


one  gun  barrel.  On  the  forge  a  pine  tree  had  established  itself,  which  we  cut 
down,  and  counted  upon  the  stump  sixty-one  layers  of  annual  growth. 

In  regard  to  the  implements  found  at  the  mill  on  Carp  River,  I  incline  to  the 
belief  that  they  are  not  as  ancient  as  the  old  mines.  Mr.  Henry,  who  has  furnished 
us  the  account  of  the  explorations  just  referred  to  on  the  Ontonagon  River,  and  on 
the  north  shore,  made  by  the  English  soon  after  the  Treaty  of  Paris,  says  that  the 
Indians  beat  out  pieces  of  copper  into  bracelets  and  spoons.  None  of  their  imple- 
ments are  shown  to  have  been  so  difficult  to  form  as  the  chisels  and  spear-heads, 
which  are  found  in  the  old  pits.  These  required  a  state  of  mechanical  skill  appa- 
rently above  the  reach  of  Indians. 

Mr.  Burt  has  also  furnished  the  following  sketch  of  a  copper  hooh  found  by 
himself  in  the  excavation  of  the  St.  Mary's  Canal. 


Fig.  18. 


Y 


a 


Copper  Hook. — FuU  size,     a  a.  Flaws  in  the  metal.     Sault  Rt.  Mary's, 

It  has  the  usual  flaws  Avhich  cold  Avrought  articles  exhibit,  and  doubtless  belongs 
to  the  class  of  recently  made  implements. 


ON  THE  SHORES  OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR. 


25 


On  the  Canada  shore  of  the  St.  Mary's  River,  at  Garden  River,  twelve  mUes 
below  the  Sault,  an  iinj)lement  was  discovered  ui  the  soU  by  a  half-breed  and  pre- 
sented to  Mr.  Burt.     The  horizontal  and  side  views  are  sufficiently  shown  in  the 

Fig.  19. 


Odtlinb  op  a  Coppek  Tool.     Full  size.     Garden  River,  Canada. — a.  The  head. — b.  The  edge. — c  c.  Flaws  in  xhe 

metal. 


Long  tudinal  section. 
Fig.  20. 


CoppBB  Speak-head.     Full  size.     Downward  view — e.  Hole  in  back  of  shank.     Oak  Orchard,  Oconto  County, 

Wisconsin. 


Section  of  blade  through  c  d. 


Section  of  shank  through  a  b. 


sketch  to  indicate  its  use,  which  was  that  of  a  cutting  instrument  like  a  chisel. 
Its  bruised  head  shows  the  effect  of  blows  from  ajuallet  of  wood  or  stone. 


26 


ANCIENT   MINING 


A  rude  knife  and  spcar-liead  of  copper  were  recently  picked  up  by  Mr.  William 
Windross,  at  Oak  Orchard,  Oconto  County,  Wisconsin,  on  the  western  shore  of 
Green  Bay.  They  are  in  the  possession  of  Lyman  C.  Draper,  Esq.,  of  Madison, 
Wisconsin,  to  whom  they  were  presented  by  the  Hon.  C.  D.  Robmson,  of  Green 


Copper  Knife.    Natural  size. — e  e  e.  Flaws. 


Section  of  blade  from  a  to  6.  ' 

Bay.  The  spear  or  arrow-head  differs  from  those  of  Lake  Superior  principally  in 
the  state  of  finish,  and  in  having  a  hole  e  in  the  shank  to  fasten  it  to  a  handle  or 
shaft.  Both  these  specimens  are  roughly  forged  and  apparently  ground  to  a  blunt 
edge.  They  are,  with  little  doubt,  recent,  the  work  of  some  half-breed  or  French- 
man. 


Bi/  tuTiom  toere  the  ancient  mines  wrought  ? — I  have  already  given  reasons  going  to 
show  that  it  was  not  the  present  Indian  race  by  whom  these  mines  were  worked. 

As  yet  no  remains  of  cities,  graves,  domicils,  or  highways  have  been  found  in  the 
copper  region.  As  the  race  appears  to  have  been  farther  advanced  in  civilization 
than  their  successors,  whom  we  call  the  aborigines,  they  probably  had  better  means 
of  transportation  than  the  bark  canoe.  They  might  thus  carry  provisions  a  great 
distance  by  water.  Their  mine-works  are  open  cuts  exposed  to  the  day,  which  in 
the  winter  in  this  country,  where  snow  lies  from  three  to  five  feet  in  depth,  could . 
not  be  occupied  comfortably  without  shelter.  No  remains  of  such  coverings  have 
been  discovered,  nor  is  it  probable  that  any  traces  of  such  should  now  be  recover 
able.  On  the  upland  the  thermometer  descends  to  minus  f38°.  This  would  not 
fender  these  trenches  absolutely  untenable,  but  would  present  great  difficulties  in 
working  them.  Even  in  modern  shafts  and  galleries,  that  are  closed  by  self-shutting 
doors,  frost  penetrates  to  a  depth  of  twenty  and  thirty  fathoms.  It  is  frequently 
necessary  to  put  stoves  m  the  upper  levels  in  order  to  prevent  their  being  fiUed  with 
ice.  It  would  therefore  be  barely  possible,  by  no  means  profitable,  to  work  in  open 
trenches  during  winter.  The  miners  could  readily  bring  with  them  in  the  spring 
supplies  for  three  months,  and  before  these  were  exhausted  the  same  craft  might 


ON  THE  SHORES  OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  27 

return  for  additional  supplies.  After  spending  the  months  of  summer,  the  miners 
could  return  to  their  homes  for  winter,  carrying  with  them  the  mineral  obtained 
during  the  season. 

In  relation  to  their  dead,  it  may  have  been  a  custom,  perhaps  a  part  of  their 
religion,  to  restore  the  bodies  to  their  friends.  If  the  number  of  operators  was  not 
great,  and  the  mortality  was  no  greater  than  it  is  now,  this  would  not  have  been  a 
great  burden.  In  case  there  were  no  women  and  children  the  proportional  number 
of  deaths  would  be  less  than  at  present.  It  is  now,  for  the  season  of  navigation, 
not  far  from  five  in  1000,  including  females  and  children,  and  including  also  those 
killed  by  accident. 

All  the  ancient  excavations  hitherto  examined  could  have  been  made,  with  our 
means  of  working,  at  less  expense  than  has  been  incurred  during  the  last  ten  years. 
But  we  must  allow  much  for  the  imperfect  modes  of  operating,  and  thus  increase 
the  number  of  men  required  to  do  the  same  work;  we  must  also,  on  the  other  hand, 
conclude  that  the  old  mines  were  wrought  a  great  length  of  time,  and  infer  that  a 
less  mining  force  was  kept  up  than  we  have  in  our  times. 

In  the  prosecution  of  mining  in  this  remote  region,  not  only  would  the  deaths 
be  few,  but  among  them  such  distinguished  persons  as  were  entitled  to  sepulchral 
mounds  or  monuments  would  not  be  found  ia  great  numbers.  The  absence  of  arti- 
ficial mounds,  therefore,  need  not  excite  surprise. 

The  Mound  Builders  consumed  large  quantities  of  copper.  Axes,  adzes,  chisels, 
and  ornamental  rings  are  so  common  among  the  relics  in  Ohio  as  to  leave  no  doubt 
on  this  subject.  We  know  of  no  copper  bearing  veins  so  accessible  as  those  of 
Lake  Superior  to  a  people  residing  on  the  waters  of  the  Ohio.  Neither  are  there 
any  others  now  known  that  produce  native  iiietal  in  quantities  to  serve  as  an  article 
of  commerce.  Specimens  of  pure  copper  are  foimd  in  other  mines  of  North  America, 
but  not  as  a  predominant  part  of  the  lode.  The  implements  and  ornaments  found  in 
the  mounds  are  made  of  metal  that  has  not  been  melted.  They  have  been  brought 
into  shape  cold  wrought,  or  at  least  without  heat  enough  to  liquefy  the  metal,  and 
were  therefore  produced  from  native  copper.  In  the  Lake  Superior  veins  spots  of 
native  silver  are  frequently  seen  studding  the  surface  of  the  copper,  united  or  welded 
to  it,  but  not  alloyed  with  it.  This  is  not  known  of  any  other  mines,  and  seems  to 
mark  a  Lake  Superior  specimen  wherever  it  is  found.  It  also  proves  conclusively 
that  such  pieces  have  not  undergone  fusion,  for  then  the  pure  white  spots  would 
disappear,  forming  a  weak  aUoy.  Copper  with  blotches  of  native  silver  has  -  been 
taken  from  the  mounds.  Dr.  John  Locke,  of  Cincinnati,  possessed  a  flattened 
piece  of  copper  weighing  several  pounds,  which  was  found  in  the  earthworks  at 
Colerain,  Hamilton  County,  Ohio,  having  a  spot  of  silver  as  large  as  a  pea  forming 
a  part  of  the  mass. 

At  the  first  view  of  the  logs  which  supported  the  mass  m  of  the  Minnesota  vein, 
the  marks  of  the  tool  by  which  they  were  cut  brought  to  mind  the  old  copper  axes 
I  had  seen  in  Ohio,  figured  by  Mr.  Squier.  The  cut  was  about  an  inch  and  three- 
tenths  wide,  not  smooth  lilce  that  of  a  perfectly  sharp  edge,  and  not  deep  enough 
for  a  modem  axe  or  hatchet.  No  such  axes  have  been  found  on  Lake  Superior, 
Those  of  Ohio  may  have  been  used  as  a  chisel,  although  Mr.  Squier  thinks  a 


28  ANCIENT   MINING 

handle  was  attached  to  them.  The  difference  between  the  axe  and  chisel  is 
principally  in  the  taper  of  the  axe  towards  the  head.  No  groove  or  eye  has  been 
noticed  by  which  to  insert  a  handle,  but  the  Peruvians  had  means  of  fastening  a 
handle  to  a  similar  instrument  without  either.  There  are  also  chisel-like  tools  from 
the  Ohio  mounds  almost  identical  with  those  I  have  already  figured.  James 
McBride,  Esq.,  of  Hamilton,  Butler  County,  Ohio,  has  in  his  possession  four  of 
them,  found  in  1855  near  that  place,  that  may  be  regarded  either  as  chisels,  axes, 
or  adzes. 

How  much  time  has  passed  since  these  mines  were  Avrought,  or  since  they  were 
abandoned,  is  a  question  of  great  interest.  The  timber  foimd  in  some  of  the  ancient 
mines  is  in  a  better  state  of  preservation  than  that  of  the  Ohio  mounds;  but  it  does 
not  foUow  that  it  is  more  recent.  Most  of  the  pieces  exhumed  were  covered  by 
water,  or  wet  earth.  In  a  northern  climate  the  decay  of  wood  is  slower  than  in 
warmer  regions.  The  timber  itself  is  mostly  resinous,  which  assists  in  its  preserva- 
tion. The  wooden  cobwork  that  remains  in  the  Ohio  tumuli,  hitherto  examined, 
always  lies  above  water,  and  the  loamy  earth  in  which  it  was  buried  does  not  wholly 
exclude  the  atmosphere. 

In  the  Grave  Creek  mound  the  timber  was  very  much  decayed,  but  the  chambers 
inclosing  the  skeletons  were  elevated  above  the  natural  surface,  and  the  surrounding 
earth  was  dry.  These  circumstances  being  considered,  it  does  not  foUow  that  the 
wood  work  of  the  mounds  is  the  most  ancient  because  it  is  the  most  decayed. 

The  living  trees  now  standing,  with  their  roots  entwined  among  the  mauls,  skids, 
and  shovels  of  the  old  miners,  are  reliable  witnesses  as  to  the  least  space  of  time 
since  the  mmes  were  abandoned.  The  age  of  such  trees  varies  from  300  to  350 
years.  Beneath  the  shade  of  these  patriarchs  of  the  forest  are  the  prostrate  and 
rotten  trunks  of  a  preceding  generation. 

General  Harrison,  in  a  discourse  before  the  Historical  Society  of  Ohio,  adds 
another  score  to  the  tally  of  ages  that  have  passed  since  the  earthworks  were 
evacuated.  When  ground  that  has  been  cleared  of  its  timber  is  abandoned,  the 
second  growth  differs  from  the  first  in  kind.  It  is  not  until  several  generations  of 
trees  have  disappeared,  that  such  places  produce  the  varieties  which  constituted  the 
original  forest.  The  same  thing  is  observed  on  Point  KeAveenaw;  where  a  sweep- 
ing fire  has  consumed  or  deadened  the  resinous  trees  of  the  moimtains,  the  first 
succeeding  growth  is  that  of  birch  and  aspen. 

In  process  of  time,  however,  the  balsam,  cedar,  pine,  and  hemlock,  resume  their 
ancient  domain,  overshadowing  and  obscuring  the  deciduous  trees.  On  the  ancient 
burrows,  and  in  the  old  pits  of  Lake  Superior,  the  same  kinds  of  timber  flourish 
now  as  are  observed  in  the  surrounding  forest.  These  works  coidd  not  have  been 
carried  on  without  destroying  the  growth  of  timber  of  that  day.  Before  the  pines, 
and  other  evergreens  that  now  occupy  these  places,  overcame  the  birch  and  aspen 
trees,  one  or  two  generations  must  have  passed  away. 

Is  it  going  too  far,  on  the  strength  of  this  evidence,  to  place  the  abandonment  of 
the  mines  at  a  distance  of  500  to  600  years  from  our  times'? 

There  may  have  been  inhabitants  covering  large  territories  for  long  periods  who 
have  disappeared  without  leaving  any  monumental  evidences  of  their  occupation. 


ON  THE  SHORES  OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  29 

If  the  North  American  Indians  had  been  destroyed  by  a  general  pestilence  before 
Pamplulo  de  Narvaez  landed  in  Florida,  what  traces  of  them  should  we  be  able  to 
findl  They  have  left  no  distiactive  marks  of  their  existence  impressed  upon  the 
soU,  Some  faint  signs  of  cultivation  in  the  shape  of  httle  hillocks  or  hiUs  of  corn, 
not  entirely  obliterated  as  yet,  are  the  sole  vestiges  of  centuries.  But  avoiding  all 
mere  conjectural  speculations,  the  following  conclusions  may  be  drawn  with  reason- 
able certaiaty: — 

An  ancient  people  extracted  copper  from  the  vems  of  Lake  Superior  of  whom 
history  gives  no  account. 

They  did  it  in  a  rude  way,  by  means  of  fire  and  the  use  of  copper  wedges  or 
gads,  and  by  stone  mauls. 

They  had.  only  the  simplest  mechanical  contrivances,  and  consequently  pene- 
trated the  earth  but  a  short  distance.' 

They  do  not  appear  to  have  acquired  any  sldU  in  the  art  of  metallurgy  or  of 
cutting  masses  of  copper. 

For  cutting  tools  they  had  chisels,  and  probably  adzes  or  axes  of  copper.  These 
tools  are  of  pure  copper,  and  hardened  only  by  condensation  or  beating  when  cold. 

They  sought  chiefly  for  small  masses  and  lumps,  and  not  for  large  masses. 

No  sepulchral  mounds,  defences,  domicils,  roads  or  canals  are  known  to  have  been 
made  by  them.     No  evidences  have  been  discovered  of  the  cidtivation  of  the  soil. 

They  had  weapons  of  defence  or  of  the  chase,  such  as  darts,  spears,  and  daggers 
of  copper. 

They  must  have  been  numerous,  industrious,  and  persevering,  and  have  occupied 
the  country  a  long  time. 

Eagle  River,  May  1,  1856. 


'  Their  deepest  works  are  about  the  same  as  that  of  the  old  tin  miues  of  Cornwall,  which  were 
wrought  before  the  conquest  of  Britain  by  the  Romans. 


PUBLISHED    BY    THE    SMITHSONIAN    INSTITUTION, 

WASHINGTON,    D.    0. 

APKIL,    1863. 


BOSTON   COLLEGE 


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